AFIA 2018 winners announced

Close to 700 members of the Australian freight and logistics industry gathered in Melbourne Saturday evening to celebrate the achievements of winners and finalists of the Victorian Transport Association’s (VTA) Australian Freight Industry Awards (AFIA).

The annual awards recognise excellence from transport operator and supplier companies and individuals across a range of categories and celebrate the enormous contribution the industry makes to the national economy.

Seven award winners were recognised at the AFIAs this year, which were proudly sponsored by TWUSUPER and Viva Energy Australia and held in the Palladium Ballroom at Crown Melbourne.

A new award category sponsored by Viva Energy Australia to recognise Female Leadership in Transport was introduced this year and was strongly contested by four finalists.

The winners were:

Paul Retter AM, National Transport Commission, Personality of the Year Award – sponsored Transport for Victoria

VTA CEO, Peter Anderson, announced the winners, who were presented with their award by VTA President Cameron Dunn and the Hon. Luke Donnellan, Minister for Roads, Ports and Road Safety, representing the Victorian Government and Transport for Victoria.

“The Australian Freight Industry Awards showcase the very best our industry has to offer and with dozens of high-quality applications received across the various categories it’s clear the transport industry is committed to innovation, improvement and best practice,” said Anderson.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists on their outstanding achievements, and for striving for excellence in everything they do to make the transport industry more productive, efficient and safe at every stage in the supply chain,” he said.

Addressing members and guests at his second AFIA presentation as VTA President, Dunn reflected on some of the key achievements of the VTA over a busy 12 months.

“As President, my focus has been to ensure everything the Association pursues has, at its core, a Members First focus, because we exist first and foremost to ensure conditions are positive for operators,” said Dunn.

“Reducing congestion and associated costs for operators through the delivery of new infrastructure remains a priority, so it’s encouraging that VTA advocacy has contributed to both political parties committing to building the North East Link.

“The establishment of Freight Victoria as an interface between government and industry was a specific recommendation of the VTA, in a further example of our Association’s ability to influence for positive outcomes.

“Heavy vehicle licensing and training is another area where we have had significant traction, with our intensive Driver Delivery program recently graduating its 60th candidate and putting them in gainful employment,” he said.

Dunn said the award winners and nominees provided a small snapshot of the many great efforts the industry goes to every year in striving for excellence in servicing customers and the community.

“On behalf of the VTA Executive Council, may I add our congratulations to each of the winners, and extend our thanks to every organisation that submitted a nomination,” he said.